Taraba Assembly speaker, 15 lawmakers defect to APC

The Speaker of the Taraba State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Kizito Bonzena, has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and officially joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) while revealing that 15 other PDP lawmakers have also submitted letters to defect to the ruling party

The lawmakers joining Bonzena include Deputy Speaker Hamman Adama Abdullai (Bali 2), Majority Leader Jethro Yakubu (Wukari 1), Tafarki Eneme (Kurmi), Akila Nuhu (Lau), Musa Chul (Gassol 1), Josiah Yaro (Wukari 2), Tanko Yusuf (Takum 1), Veronica Alhassan (Bali 1), Anas Shuaibu (Karim Lamido 2), Nelson Len (Nguroje), Umar Adamu (Jalingo 1), Joseph Kassong (Yorro), John Lamba (Takum 2), Happy Shonruba (Ardo-Kola), and Zakari Sanusi (Ibi).

Bonzena stressed that the decision was made in the collective interest of Taraba State, not for personal gain. “Our people should not misinterpret this decision. It is for the interest of Taraba. We now have all 24 members of the House as APC members. We want the people of Taraba to see this as the best decision for the state and continue to support the government,” he said.

Welcoming the defectors, former Speaker and Mbamnga Constituency representative Peter Diah noted that the House had been accommodating to APC members when they were in the minority. He expressed satisfaction that all members are now aligned with the vision of President Bola Tinubu.

Bonzena prayed that the move would signal a new era for Taraba and its residents. With this development, the Taraba State House of Assembly now has no opposition members remaining.

Governor Kefas has also confirmed his decision to leave the PDP and will formally join the APC on Saturday.

The wave of defections from the opposition has sparked concerns among some critics, who argue that President Tinubu is steering Nigeria toward a one-party system.

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